Damascus, Syria – According to Reuters, three sources familiar with the matter said the United States has warned Syria against continuing to rely on Chinese technology in its telecommunications sector. The United States considers this to be contrary to American interests and a threat to U.S. national security.
Unannounced meeting in San Francisco
According to sources, the message was conveyed during an unannounced meeting held Tuesday in San Francisco. The meeting included a delegation from the US State Department and Syrian Communications Minister Abdul Salam Heikal.
There was no immediate official comment from either side regarding the details of the meeting or its outcomes. Furthermore, the nature of the alternatives Washington might offer Damascus should it abandon the Chinese systems remains unclear.
Continuous coordination since 2024
These pressures come within the framework of ongoing coordination between Washington and Damascus since 2014, following the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. During his rule, Syria maintained a strategic partnership with China, which included extensive cooperation in infrastructure and technology.
The telecommunications sector is considered highly sensitive from a security perspective, given the escalating competition between the United States and China for global technological influence, particularly in 5G networks and digital infrastructure systems.
There has been no official comment from the Syrian government so far regarding the sources’ reports about the nature of the American warnings or Damascus’s final position on technological cooperation with Beijing.
